Feasible fabrication and textile application of polymer composites featuring dual optical thermoresponses

Abstract Materials possessing simultaneous thermochromism and thermofluorescence are promising in various applications. In order to address the challenges associated with performance, versatility, and feasibility, a direct blending approach is developed to synthesize thermoresponsive polymer composites from indenoquinacridone dye solution and various polymer matrices. This feasible and scalable method affords polymer materials exhibiting simultaneous color-change and turned-on emission upon heating, high reversibility, programmable response temperature, high-contrast signal output, feasible preparation, and mechanical adaptability. Printed patterns of the composite on cotton fabric show clear optical responses to temperature changes. The integration of high-performance optical thermoresponses and advantages of the polymer matrices lays the foundation for large-scale employment of these composite materials in a wide range of applications.